Process and apparatus for bagging asphalt



3 Sheets-Sheet 1 G. C. BROWN PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR BAGGING ASPHALT Filed May 28, 193'? July 2, 1940.

INVENTOR fem/ER 6. BROWN BY I ATTORNEY Yam July 2, 1940. cs. c. BROWN 2,206,157

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR BAGGING ASPHALT Filed Kay 28, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORN EY Patented July 2, 1940 UNITED s'rrss PROCESS AND APPARATUS roe BAGGING ASPHALT Grover Q. Brown, Montcbello, Qaliik, assignor to The Patent and Licensing Corporation, New, York, N. Y., a corporation of Massachusetts Applicationlvilay 28, 193?, Serial No. 145,223

ii (Claims. (Cl. WG-51) This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for packaging asphalt, pitch and other heat liquefiable materials. The invention more particularly relates to the packaging of such materialsin relatively fle gible containers, as for example, paper bags.

Proposals have recently been made. toadopt paper bags as containers for'asphalt in place of, or supplementary to, the wooden or metal barrels long employed for the packaging of this material. Bags'for this use present the advantages that they are light in weight, they may be made of any size to accommodate the desired quantity of asphalt, they are readily disposable when their contents have'been removed, and they provide a package which is clean and neat and increases the saleability of the product. Furthermore, a quantity of asphalt in bags may be stored in a smaller space than may a similar quantity of asphalt placed in barrels or drums.

The packaging of asphalt or the like in has, however, raised certain problems not en? countered where barrels or drums are used. Thus in the barrelling of asphalt, the asphalt maybe 5 supplied in a molten and freely fiowable state and run into open headed barrels or drums placed manually, or otherwise delivered, beneath an asphalt discharge spout. Barrels or drums being self-sustaining need no external support as the asphalt is flowed into them and after being filled and headed, or left unheaded but maintained in an upright position, they may be andclosing operations and, furthermore, the sup-- port for the bags must be continued, at least to a to substantial extent, until the asphalt therein has cooled and solidified or otherwise deformation, and/or rupture of the bags is likely to occur with consequent danger ,of injury to workmen,

lossof material and other undesirable results.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide amethod of packaging asphalt, or other heat liquefiable materials, in bags in such a manner that the bags are supported against collapse during the filling and closing operations and support is maintained thereon until their contents have solidified sufliciently to provide a self-sustaining package.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method, as stated above, in whichthe bags are 55 filled and conveyed to a place of storagein a substantially continuous operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a suitable apparatus for carrying out the above stated method.

The above noted objects bags are attained accord-' ing to my invention which, briefly stated, resides in the provision of a plurality of bag supporting; openable forms constructed to convey bags in succession from a bag inserting station, through bag filling and closing stations and to a bag. discharging station. At the latter station, in accordance with the invention, the forms are opened to discharge the bags, while maintaining support thereon, to a receiving means through whichthe bags are transferred without substantial deformation and with a minimum of manual effort to carrying devices which, in eiiect, provide a second form to hold and support the bag while the same is conveyed to a place of store age, and until the contents thereof have cooled and solidified.

In the filling of bags or the like with heat liquefiable substances by use of the method and apparatus of the present invention, briefly described above; a continuous operation is obtained, the bags being conveyed successively through the filling and closing stations and to a place of storage and cooling. No direct manual handling of the filled bags is required and the bags are at all times supported to prevent or to mini mize danger of deformation or rupture thereof until after their contents have cooled and solidified. Hence the likelihood of injury to the operators, through burns, which might occur if the bags were to be manually handled, or if the bags ruptured and the hot molten contents thereof escaped, is reduced to a minimum. Furthermore the bags with their solidified contents are of a uniform and regular configuration.

' For use in the method and apparatus of the present invention, a bag found most suitable comprises one made of iplies of kraft paper with the inner ply having its inner surface coated with a suitable material, i. e., clay, which prevents adhesion of the asphalt to the wall of the bag. However, any suitable type of bag may be used in my invention, as for example, substantially impervious cloth bags and the like.

, My invention will be more fully understood and further objects and advantages thereof will become apparent when reference is made to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view depicting an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention,

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the device shown in Figure 1,

till

preferably employed in the present invention and,

Figure 6 is a perspective view illustrating the manner in which a plurality of the'tote-boards with filled bags therein may be stacked.

Referring particularly to Figures 1 and 2, an

apparatus embodying the present invention therein and suitable for carrying out my. method is disclosed, the apparatus comprising a turn table, indicated generally at In, and supported thereon to rotate therewith a plurality (4 being shown) of bag supporting and molding forms 20. The apparatus further includes an asphalt supplying means 80, a filled bag receiving chute 48, a conveying system indicated at 58, and a plurality of bag carriers 16, hereinafter referred to as tote-boards.

More specifically. describing the several parts of the apparatus the turn table I8 essentially comprises an annular track supported at a suitable height from the floor on legs l2 and an annular ring l3 overlying the track in spaced and rotatable relationship thereto. The ring I3 is provided with a pair of concentric cylindrical flanges 4 secured to the under surface thereof by welding or the like, the flanges having, at spaced points, downwardly extending plates I5. The plates l5 on one of the concentric flanges lie opposite to those on the other of said flanges to provide supporting means for axles |6 extending between opposing plates and secured in a suitable manner in fixed relationship thereto. Rotatably mounted on the axles 6 are wheels adapted to run on the track I I, the mounting of the wheels on the axles preferably comprising an anti-friction bearing such as the ball bearing shown at I8. The annular ring I3 supports on its upper face a plurality of the bag supporting and molding forms 28.

The bag supporting and molding forms 20, iilustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 4 are constructed of suitable dimensions as to accommodate bags of the desired capacity and comprise a relatively stationary part 28A fixedly secured to the ring l3 and a swingably mounted part 283 pivotally connected to the fixed part 28A. The part 20A preferably comprises a vertically extending plate "2| reenforced along its longitudinal edges as by angle irons 22 and secured, if desired, to the annular ring l3 by welding orthe like. Base members comprising angle plates 23- are provided for the part 20A, the angle plates 23 being welded or otherwise secured to the ring l3 and to the lower ends of the angle irons 22. Braces 24 are provided to connect the upper portion of the plate 2| and angle irons 22 with the angle members 23 to maintain the plate 2| in its vertical position. The braces 24 are preferably provided at their upper ends with integral flanges 32 to provide abutments for supporting the arms 36 of a retainer yoke, later described, in a horizontal position.

The swingably mounted part 20B of the form essentially comprises a box-like member having one open face and one open end and is hingedly secured to the fixed part 20A. Part 203, as shown, comprises side members 26, an end member 21 and a face or bottom member 28, all constructed of a suitable material, e. g., sheet steel, and secured together by welding or the like. No

'reenforcement for this part of the form has been shown, but as will be apparent to one skilled in the art, such reenforcement may readi' be provided, e. g., angle irons or the like may be secured along the free edges of the members 26,

.remote from the chute.

21 and 28 to prevent bending or warping of the same, the angle irons preferably being secured to the outer faces of the members. The pivotal connection between the part A and part 28B, comprises pintles preferably fixedly secured to the part 283 adjacent the closed corners thereof and extending through bearings provided in the outer ends of angle members 23. An operating handle 29 is provided for the part 203 which may comprise a bar or tube secured to the outer face of the plate 28 parallel and adjacent to the free edge thereof and extending from the side edges of the form a sufficient distance to provide grasping portions. The handle member provides means whereby the part 203 may readily be swung on its pivots from an open position, as shown in full lines in Figure 4, to a closed position, as indicated in dotted lines in said figure and vice versa.

v To retain the part 20B in closed position during the supporting of a bag therein from a bag inserting station to a bag discharging station, a retainer yoke is provided which comprises members each pivoted-at one of its ends adjacent the upper end of an angle iron 22 and of suflicient length to extend beyond the bottom plate 28 of the part 20B, when the latter is in closed position, to provide a handle. The members 30 are connected by a bar 3| which lies adjacent the bottom plate 28 of part 203 when the latter is in closed position. The retainer yoke provides readily releasable means for positively locking the part 203 in closed position.

At the bag discharge station of the turn table II), a chute, indicated at 40 is provided which is adapted to receive the open end of the part 203 of each bag supporting and molding form 20 as said part is swung into bag discharging position (see Figure 4). The chute comprises side members 4| and a bottom member 42, preferably constructed of sheet steel or the like, and'is supported on a suitable frame-work comprising angle irons 43 and 44. The angle irons 43 each have one of their ends secured to a leg 45 and the other of their ends secured to a channel member 5| of a roller conveyor 50.

The roller conveyor may be of any conventional or suitable construction and, as shown, comprises channel members 5| and rollers 52 supported at a proper elevation from the floor by legs 53. The rolls of the conveyor may be driven, if desired, but preferably the conveyor'is supported to extend at a slight angle to the horizontal whereby articles will be carried therealong by the force of gravity. At a point on the conveyor opposite to the lower end of the chute 40, stop means are provided which comprise stop lugs 54 and 55 vertically movable from a raised to a lowered position and vice versa in plates 56 welded or otherwise secured to the side of the conveyor A suitable operating device is provided to normally maintain the lugs in the raised position but permit them to be lowered when desired.- In this construction of the stop lug operating device illustrated, the lugs 54 and 55 each have extending shanks pivotally connected at their lower ends to arms 51 and 58 respectively which are in turn fixed to a shaft 59 rotatably mounted in bearings 68. The arm 58 is extended, at one end, past the shaft 59 and a counter-balance 6| is preferably adjustably mounted on the extended portion. The weight of the counterbalance 6| is such and it is so adjusted on the extending portion of the arm 58 as to normally maintain the stop lugs 54 and 55 in their raised position. A foot pedal is preferably provided which may comprise a plate 62 securedby welding or, the like to the arm 58 whereby tlfe---stop lugs may be retracted to their lowered position against the stop lug lifting action of the counterbalance.

The conveyor 53 is employed to convey tote{- boards ill (see Figures ,1, 2 and 55 to the chute 40, where the tote-boards each receive a filled bag of asphalt, and to convey the same away from the chute. Consequently the arrangement of the stop lugs a l and 5, conveyor Eli, and chute is suchthat a tote-board may extend lengthwise between the stop lugs and the end of the chute. The chute and roller conveyor are also preferably so placed in relation to the floor that the swingable part 2th of a form it, when in a discharge position with its outer end lying within-one end of the chute lt, slants downwardly in a plane parallel to and slightly spaced from, the plane of the chute bottom, and the lower edge of the bottom plate d2 of the chute is in substantial horizontal alignment with the bag supporting floor of a tote-board on the con veyor til.

A tote-board, preferably employed in the pres ent invention, is indicated at it (see Figures 1, 2 and 5) and comprises a bottom member ill and upstanding walls'llt forming an open ended and open topped boa. Suitable handles are provided to permit ready manual movement of the box, the handles comprising members it secured delivery pipe $2 is provided in communication with the interior of-the tanh ill and has a downwardly directed spout located in such position as to overlie the path of the forms it as they rotate with the turn table ill. ,The delivery end of the pipetZ is provided with a quick actingvalve ill of any suitable type.

In preparation for the filling of paper and other flexible containers according to the method of the present invention and with the apparatus described above, the tank 8i is supplied with asphalt or other heat liuueflable substance to be packaged, the asphalt or the like being maintained in the tank, if necessary by suitable heating means as previously referred to, at such temperatures as to be in a freely flowable state. A supply of empty containers, preferably bags of the type described above, (i. e., t ply kraft paper with the inner ply thereof provided with a suitable clay coating to prevent sticking of the asphalt to the paper) is stacked adjacent a station A (see Figure 1). A plurality of the tote-boards are placed on the roller conveyor Ell or adjacent thereto in such a position that they may readily and successively be placed with their bag receiv ing portions in alignment with the chute iii.

In the carrying out of the method of the present invention, the bag supporting and molding forms 20 have their swingable parts 20B in an at a station B (see Figure 1) opens the valve be ME to permit a quantity of the asphalt, or other Heat llqueflable substance contained in the tanlrdl, to run into the open bag within the form. At the same time another empty bag is inserted in a second supporting and molding form which has iii arrived at station A. When the bag is filled to the desired level the operator at station E shuts oh the flow from the tank ti, and the turn table is again moved until the first mentioned molding form with its filled bag arrives at station C where tion by an operator.

The closing and sealing of the bags is preferably obtained by bringing together the upper ends of their lateral walls, and either folding over said walls and stapling them in the folded over position, or stapling a folded capping strip over the gathered bag walls. However, the bags may be closed and sealed in any other desired manner.

While the bag in the first form is being closed and sealed, the bag in the second molding form is filled with asphalt at station E and an empty bag is inserted in a third molding form at station. A. The turn table is then again rotated to bring the first mentioned molding form to the discharge station D opposite the chute did.

The first mentioned filling form withthe filled and closed bag therein is opened by an opera tor who first grasps the handle portions of members Sill of the retainer yoke til'-3l and swings the yoke upwardly. The operator then rotates the portion 29B of the form outwardly by means of the handle it until'its open end lies within an end of the chute db (see Figure 4) When theopen end oi. part lltlh is lying within the chute dll, an operator placed at a station E (see Figure l) grasps the bag lying in the open form by means of suitable tongs or the like and slides it through the chute db and onto a tcte-board, which was previously placed on the conveyor 5b in alignment with the chute. The tote-board is prevented from sliding across the conveyor as the bag is drawn onto the tote-board by the stoplugs ti and dd, normally maintained in a raised position by the counterbalance bl as previously explained. The chute db and the tote-boards provide, in effect, forms for additional continuously supporting and molding the f lled bags from this point in. the operation until their contents have congealed. d

Thus, it will be noted that from the time each bag is filled and until its contents are cooled andsufdciently congealed, at least one face and both sides of the bag are supportedat all times (though seriatim) by the walls of the filling the bag is closed and sealed in the closed posilift form, the chute and the tote-board, whereby undue distortion of the bag is prevented and the danger of rupture thereof is reduced to a minimum.

As the discharging of the bag from the first mentioned filling form is being accomplished,

the filled bag in the second mentioned form is being stapled and closed, the bag in the third form is being filled from the tank 8|, and an empt several operations, described above, are repeated bag is being inserted in the fourth form at the station A.

After the tote-board is loaded with the filled bag of asphalt in the manner described, the stop ,lugs 54 and 55 are withdrawn through depression until any desired quantity of the asphalt or other heat liquefiable material has been packaged.

At the storage and cooling point, the toteboards are preferably stacked in superposed relationship as indicated in Figure 6. As willbe observed the upstanding walls of the tote-boards prevent compression of the bags by superposed boards, the bags and their contents thus being permitted to cool without deformation or danger or rupture of the bags. The bags, after their contents have solidified, may be removed from the tote-boards and stacked in any suitable manner, the tote-boards being returned to the bag unloading station for further use.

Having thus described my invention in rather full detail, it will be apparent that these details need not be strictly adhered to and that the numerous changes and modifications will suggest themselves to one skilled in the art which come within the scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is: x

1. In an apparatus of the class described, a bag supporting form supported to move in a fixed path, a bag filling means in said fixed'path, a conveying means adjacent said fixed path, and means for transferring a filled bag from said supporting form to said conveying means, said transfer means comprising a part of said supporting form and being formed to support the filled bag against deformation during transfer from the supporting means to the conveying means.

' 2. In an apparatus for the packaging of asphalt in bags, an openable bag supporting form supported to move in a fixed circular path, a bag filling means in said fixed path, a chute adjacent said fixed path and extending in a radial direction with respect thereto, said chute being constructed to receive a portion of the form when the latter is opened, and a conveying means adjacent the chute and extending substantially at right angles thereto.

3. In .an apparatus for the packaging of asphalt in bags, a turn table, a plurality of openable bag supporting forms on the turn table, a discharge spout in communication with an as.- phalt supply and overlying the turn table, a chute adjacent the turn table and extending in a radial direction therefrom, the chute being so constructed and arranged as to receive an openable portion of said forms, and a conveying means adjacent the chute and extending substantially at right angles thereto.

4. In an apparatus for the packaging of asphalt in bags, a turn table supporting thereon a plurality of bag supporting forms, the forms each having a part in fixed position relatively to the turn table and a part swingably mounted relatively thereto and adapted to be swung from a vertical position to a relatively horizontal position, a discharge spout in communication with an asphalt supply and overlying the turn table, and a chute adjacent the turn table and extending in a radial direction therefrom, the chute being, so constructed and arranged as to receive the free end of the swingably mounted part of each said form when said part is in its relatively horizontal position.

5. In an apparatus for the packaging of asphalt in bags, a turn table supporting thereon a plurality of bag supporting forms, the forms each vhaving a part in fixed position relatively to the turn table and a part swingably mounted relatively thereto and adapted to be swung from a vertical position to a relatively horizontal position, a discharge spout in communication with an asphalt supply and overlying the turn table, a chute adjacent the turn table and extending in a radial direction therefrom, the chute being so constructed and arranged as to receive the I free end of the swingably mounted part of each said form when said part is in its relatively horizontal position, and a conveying means adjacent the chute and extending substantially at right angles thereto.

6. In an apparatus for the packaging of asphalt in bags, a turn table supporting thereon a plurality of bag supporting forms, the forms each having a part in fixed position relatively to the turn table and a part'swingably mounted relatively thereto and adapted to be swung from a vertical position to a relatively horizontal po-,

sition, a discharge spout in communication with .an asphalt supply'and overlying the turn table,

a chute adjacent the turn table and extending in a radial direction therefrom, the chute being so constructed and arranged as to receive the free end of the swingably mounted part of each said form when said part is in its relatively horizontal position, a conveying means adjacent the chute and extending substantially at right angles thereto, and advanceable and retractable 'stop means adjacent said conveying means and opposite to the chute.

'7. In an apparatus of the class described a turn table, a plurality of bag supporting forms on said turn table for rotation, therewith, each of said forms comprising a 'part mounted in a fixed position on the turn table and forming a vertical wall of said form, and a box-like part having one open end swingably mounted on said turn table between vertical and relatively horizontalpositions; and a chute'adjacent the turn table and extending in a radial direction therefrom, the chute being so constructed and arranged as to receive the open end of the said swingably mounted part.

c 8. In an apparatus of the class described a turn table, a plurality of bag supporting forms on said turn table for rotation therewith, each of said forms comprising a part mounted in a fixed position on the turn table and forming a vertical wall of said form, and a box-like part having one open endswingably mounted on said turn table between vertical'a-nd relatively horizontal positions; a chute adjacent the turn table and extending in a radial direction therefrom, the

- chute being so constructed and arranged as to chute.

GROVER 0. BROWN. 

